Bowling and Backyard

The same day my Aunt and Uncle left, my in laws arrived from Chicago for a visit. We filled up the weekend with pedicures (Gabi's first one!) with Grandma, work on the backyard (John took his entire one week break between school quarters to re-do our weed pit of a backyard) with Grandpa, card games, dinner out, bowling on Father's Day, and church.  It was a fun weekend.

We had a little wait because the bowling alley was busy on Father' Day

Gabi and Grandpa

Grandma and Luci

Gabi wanted the pink ball

Luci wanted in on the fun too

the alley had a bowling helper for little ones, and Luci was so proud

My sweet boy

Gabi's cute little bowling feet

Here is a sneak peak at the backyard and what John has done with it.  I wish I had a BEFORE picture.  This part of the yard was basically uneven ground with dirt and weeds all over it.  He's made it a much more functional area for us now.  I'll have to take more pictures soon and post because we have done even more since these photos. 

Summer is Here!

While Gabi has been out of preschool since the end of May, Emilio has had kindergarten until last Monday, June 20th (apparently a few snow days made for a LONGer school year).  He got to go to Field Day at school last week, which he loved, and then the parents were invited to the class to see a slideshow and make their goodbyes.  We've really loved Emilio's teacher this year, she was the perfect combination of a structured but very nurturing teacher that teaches to the whole student.  We couldn't have been happier with E's first year of public school.  I actually teared up a little during the slideshow presentation as we reminesced about how fast a year goes, and how much each of our children has grown over the school year.  As Emilio wrote in his "Thank you" card to his teacher, "Goodbye Kindergarten, Hello First Grade!" (as least for him).  We will be saying hello to Kindergarten again next year with Gabriela!

Emilio and Ms. W

We have been very busy the last few weeks with visitors and projects, and summer happenings.  Here are some pictures of what we have been up to.  

I received a belated birthday gift from a good friend recently.  My friend Steph sent me a Zoku Quick Pop Maker.  This little device goes in our freezer, you pull it out, pour juice or whatever concoction you think would make a good combination for a Popsicle in it, and you literally have Popsicles in 7-10 minutes.  It is really cute.  We've made lots of healthy pops the last few weeks with this baby, it has been very fun!

Luci with her Raspberry Lemonade with fresh raspberries Popsicle!

Yummy treat for the whole fam!

 My Uncle John and Aunt Kathe came to visit us from California on their way to Alaska.  We had such a great time with them.  We had "Beauty Parlor" night and let the girls put all sorts of things in our hair.  They loved it!

They even beautified Uncle John!

Such determination.
 

Kindergarten Scrapbooks

I volunteered for the job of putting together the kindergarten scrapbooks this year for Emilio's class.  His teacher assigns a parent to help every year with it because it is such a big job.  Throughout the year his teacher would send home different works of art that the class had put together and I checked each child's project off the list, and put everything in my trusty plastic tub.  The week before the scrapbooks were due, I stayed up late (past midnight 3 nights in a row) preparing all the embellishments, pictures and projects for each scrapbook.  Needless to say, the scrapbooks took a LOT longer than I thought to prepare.  Thankfully, on a Friday night in early June, four of my closest kinder mom friends came over, and we enjoyed munchies, and wine, and gab while we put all twenty books together.  It took us until midnight to finish, but they turned out wonderfully, and I never would have finished without the help of my lovely friends.  I think the teacher and the children were very pleased with their keepsake as well. I hinted to Emilio's teacher, who we have just loved this year by the way, that if Gabi were to get her next year, I could do the scrapbooks for her again.  hint, hint!  She said she only wished she had pull in that decision.  Darn,...... I tried.  

My attempt at organizing all the crafts for my "work party."

 Emilio's book, everybody else had a similar book.

Emilio's teacher made a great powerpoint to music of all sorts of memories from the year for each child that we slipped in this envelope. 

on the last day of school all the children signed their autograph on each book. 

Dance and Mary

Okay, so I finally got those darn Kindergarten Scrapbooks DONE....more to come on those later.  Back in May, we had a jam packed Saturday that started with Gabi's dance recital.  She looked so sweet in her very pink (just Gabi's style) costume, but was even cuter on stage as she waved continuously, and danced to the beat of her own music (that's my Gabi!).  As soon as we were finished with the recital, we grabbed some lunch, had Gabi change (literally, in the minivan), and headed downtown to Seattle's Paramount Theater with my mom, sis in law Karen Rose, Emilio, Gabi, my sis in law Emily, her mom, and my niece and nephew to see Mary Poppins, the Broadway musical.  It was an amazing show.  Our favorite parts were seeing Mary fly out over the audience, and seeing Bert, the Chimney Sweep dance on the ceiling.  The music was so wonderful, and the kids really enjoyed their first professional live theater performance.  

a little overwhelmed

I know I've been scarce on here lately.  Once I can get done making twenty Kindergarten scrapbooks, I'll be back, promise!  Those little things are weighing on me slightly.  Tonight I have four friends and fellow kinder moms coming over for a scrapbook prepping party with a little wine and some yummy munchies, just to make it fun.  The last two nights however I've been up past midnight prepping so that tonight goes smoothly.  Hopefully, by tomorrow I'll feel better about this project I got myself into. 
Other news I will be posting about:

• Teacher Appreciation from last month
• visitors from last month and this month
• the Rose Festival Starlight Parade we went to last weekend
• and our Summer plans!

to be continued ..............